The 5 Biggest Women’s Health Issues in Ireland

From Thalidomide and the mother and baby homes, to Magdalene laundries and, more recently, the CervicalCheck scandal – it’s no secret that the treatment of women’s health in Ireland has been pretty bleak. Irish women are no longer staying silent which, in itself, is something for us all to celebrate today.

Highlighting the biggest health issues women face in Ireland today, we explore what supports are available through health insurance, and what questions you should be asking your health insurance broker to ensure you're covered for what’s important to you.

Cardiovascular Issues

Once considered ‘a man’s disease’, the number of deaths from heart disease and stroke are now the same for women. In fact, they’re the number one killer of women - both in Ireland and worldwide.

1 in 2 Irish women will die from cardiovascular disease – amounting to 5,000 women every year in Ireland alone. That’s an average of one woman every 2 hours.

Up to 80% of heart disease and stroke is preventable through lifestyle change and risk factor modification. Many health insurance plans offer a contribution to Cardiac screening, with some even offering full cover.

If you have Cardiac concerns – whether that be due to symptoms, family history or any other concerning factor – we recommend asking your health insurance broker the following 3 questions:

1. Are ‘Listed Cardiac Procedures’ covered in all hospitals – including high-tech hospitals?
2. Are there any shortfalls or co-payments on Cardiac procedures?
3. Will I have to pay an excess for Cardiac procedures?

Remember: most health insurance plans come with a 26 week standard waiting period if you’re taking out health insurance for the first time – rising to 5 years for pre-existing conditions. So don’t wait until you feel unwell to start thinking about health insurance.

Osteoporosis

In Ireland, 7 out of 10 hip fractures occur in women.

Women are more affected by bone loss than men. Not only do we have smaller bones generally, but the menopause causes some women to lose up to 30% of their overall bone mass. Additionally, if a woman has endometriosis, her sex hormones are not regular and she will have a higher risk of developing osteoporosis – a health condition that causes bones to weaken and become more fragile.

A DEXA scan is used to measure osteoporosis. Although you may be able to access scans free of charge, waiting lists can be up to a year through the public health service. Private DEXA scans cost between €80 and €100, which may be covered by your health insurance – depending on your provider and plan type.

The best questions to ask your health insurance broker if you have Orthopaedic concerns are:

1. Are all Orthopaedic hospitals covered on my health insurance plan?
2. Is there a shortfall or co-payment on any Orthopaedic procedures on my health insurance plan?
3. Can I claim money back on day-to-day expenses like Physiotherapy on my plan?

Cancer

The most common cancers in Irish women are skin, breast, gynae, lung and bowel.

Cancer patients often face financial crisis while going through treatment. The cost of cancer can be into the hundreds of thousands if you’re being treated as a private patient: the average cost of medical expenses for patients from a 2019 survey by the Irish Cancer Society was €261 per month.

1 in 10 patients incurred costs from hospital stays; the average was €288 per month, which could not be claimed back. Over a quarter of patients paid consultants’ fees at an average cost of €135 per month, and similar amounts were spent on Physio and alternative practitioners. GP charges were an additional €81 per month.

The questions to ask your health insurance broker to ensure you have good cover for prevention and treatment of cancer are:

1. What type of screening am I covered for on my health insurance plan?
2. Are there any hospitals excluded from my health insurance plan?
3. Will I have an excess for Day Case or Overnight stays in any hospitals?
4. Will I get a refund on everyday expenses such as Consultant, GP, Physio etc.?
5. Is there any other financial support available on my plan?

Find out more about getting cancer support through your health insurance here.

Infertility

Although the government says fertility treatment it is a priority, it’s not yet state-funded in Ireland – regardless of whether patients are suffering from conditions that affect fertility, such as endometriosis or cancer.

A cycle of IVF treatment can cost up to €10,000, depending on the type of treatment and clinic. Infertility treatment is not fully covered on any health insurance packages, but some plans offer bigger contributions and more benefits than others.

The questions to ask your health insurance broker on fertility are:

1. What cover does my plan provide for Fertility treatment?
2. Do waiting periods apply?
3. Do I have to visit a specific centre or are all fertility centres covered?

You can get more information about accessing fertility treatment through health insurance here.

Mental Health

In Ireland, more women report mental health problems than men, and more women engage in self-harm. While Irish men are more likely to die by suicide, Irish women are more likely to attempt suicide.

Mental health difficulties can happen to anyone, but some are more common in women - including depression, eating disorders, PTSD and self-harm. Pregnancy and early motherhood can be a lonely and difficult time with some women experiencing mental health difficulties during their pregnancy or after they have given birth.

The best questions to ask your health insurance broker to ensure you have good cover for mental health are:

1. Are there any hospitals excluded on my plan? (some psychiatric centres and mental health centres are not covered on certain plans)
2. Can I claim anything back on counselling/ psychotherapy?
3. Does my plan have any supports available for my mental wellbeing?

To learn more about getting mental health support through your insurance, read our recent blog.

We know this is a lot to think about. While we hope you never need to use any of these benefits, getting the right level of cover in place now could prove crucial in the years ahead.

At HCC, we want to help women like you to take care of their health. Our experts are supporting women across Ireland with health insurance advice – just get in touch using the form below, and we’ll help you find the plan that works for you.